BLASTOCYSTIS HOMINIS IN DIABETIC AND NON-DIABETIC PATIENTS WITH IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME IN BENI-SUEF CITY, EGYPT

Abstract

Blastocystis is an opportunistic infection that is considered to cause gastro-intestinal symptoms,including inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS). It was also found that diabetic patientsmight be at a higher risk of infection with intestinal parasites causing gastro-intestinal symptomsespecially Blastocystis. This study assessed the rate of Blastocystis infection in patientssuffering from IBS associated with diabetes mellitus (DM), in comparison with the non-diabeticIBS group. Two hundred stool samples were collected. All the participants were IBS-diagnosedpatients. It is noted that 100 were without any history of chronic diseases based on historytaking, while the other 100 were known to be diabetic. Blastocystis was diagnosed by directmicroscopy of wet preparations; Lugol's iodine staining after concentration, and ModifiedJones' Culture. Blastocystis was detected in 37%, 65%, & 87% samples, respectively in IBS diabeticpatients. But, the parasite was found in 21%, 25%, & 42% samples, respectively in IBSnon-diabetic patients. The only considerable risk factor for Blastocystis infection was the presenceof DM, as it increased the possibility of infection more than 9 times.